JP3681013B2 - Navigation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a navigation device that inputs a destination such as a destination or a passing point, searches for a route from a current position or a departure point, and performs route guidance.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle navigation apparatus that performs route guidance mounted on an automobile or the like, an apparatus that alphabetically inputs target names such as a destination, a passing point, and a facility to be viewed is known (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-503045). In this device, for example, when inputting the target name “PARI”, the first character position is selected, the character string is scrolled at that position, the character “P” is selected and input, and then the second character position is input. Is selected, and the character string is scrolled at this position to select and input the character “A”. Thereafter, in the same manner, the target names are input alphabetically by sequentially inputting up to the last character.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional navigation apparatus for inputting the target name alphabetically, the alphabetic characters of the target name have to be input to the end. Since the target name to be input is usually an unfamiliar name, it takes time to input alphabetic characters to the end, and it cannot be said that the usability is sufficient.
In addition, in the navigation device for inputting the target name, the registered place name having the part with common reading is converted into data, and when the common reading part is inputted, all the registered place data having the common part of reading are listed. Although it has been proposed that the target name can be selected from among them (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-55492), it is necessary to input all the common reading portions in this case as well.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a navigation device that provides route guidance from a current position or a departure place to a destination, and includes display means, input means for inputting a target name on a character input screen displayed on the display means, and at least a target name. A storage means for storing registration point data; and a search means for searching for a target name of registration point data including input data each time a character is input by the input means, each time a character is input by the input means. The number of remaining target names searched by the search means is displayed on the character input screen.
[0005]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
According to the present invention, when inputting a target name on a character input screen, the number of remaining lists of target names including characters and numbers input each time a character is input is displayed on the character input screen, so that the user can You can determine whether you want to increase the number of input characters or display the target name list and select from among them by looking at the number, and you do not have to enter all the target name characters, numbers, etc. Can be selected, saving the time and effort of input, and improving usability.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a navigation apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation apparatus according to the present invention includes an input / output device 1 that inputs and outputs information related to route guidance, a current position detection device 2 that detects information related to the current position of the host vehicle, and navigation necessary for calculating a route. Information storage device 3 in which display data and display guidance data necessary for guidance and the like are recorded, and a central processing unit 4 that performs display guidance processing necessary for route search processing and route guidance and controls the entire system Has been.
[0007]
The input / output device 1 instructs the central processing device 4 to perform navigation processing according to the driver's intention so that the destination can be input or the driver can output guidance information by voice and / or screen when necessary. It has a function to print out the processed data. As a means for realizing the function, the input unit has a touch switch 11 and an operation switch for inputting a destination by a telephone number or coordinates on a map, or for requesting route guidance, and for output. The unit displays the input data on the screen, displays the route guidance automatically on the screen according to the driver's request, the data processed by the central processing unit 4 and the data stored in the information storage unit 3 A printer 13 for printing and a speaker 16 for outputting route guidance by voice are provided.
[0008]
Here, a voice recognition device for enabling voice input and a recording card reading device for reading data recorded on an IC card or a magnetic card may be added. In addition, an information center that accumulates data necessary for navigation and is provided via a communication line at the request of the driver, an electronic notebook that stores driver-specific data such as map data and destination data in advance, etc. It is also possible to add a data communication device for exchanging data with other information sources.
[0009]
The display 12 is composed of a color CRT or a color liquid crystal display. Navigation such as a target name input screen based on map data and guidance data processed by the central processing unit 4, a route setting screen, a section diagram screen, an intersection diagram screen, etc. In addition to displaying all the necessary screens in color, buttons for setting route guidance, guidance during route guidance, and screen switching operations are displayed on this screen. In particular, passing intersection information such as passing intersection names is displayed in color in pop-ups on the section diagram screen at any time, and in the target name input screen, the number of remaining lists of all target names having a common reading part in the middle of input, A target name selection screen or the like is displayed. When a target name is selected by a selection key or remote control operation, a map around the destination is displayed.
[0010]
The display 12 is provided in an instrument panel in the vicinity of the driver's seat, and the driver can check the current location of the host vehicle by looking at the section diagram, and can obtain information on the future route. In addition, the display 12 is provided with a touch panel 11 corresponding to the display of the function buttons, and is configured to perform the above operation based on a signal input by touching the button. The input signal generating means including the button and the touch switch constitutes an input unit, but detailed description thereof is omitted here.
[0011]
The current position detection device 2 includes a GPS receiver 21 using a satellite navigation system (GPS), a beacon receiver 22, for example, a data transmission / reception device that receives a GPS correction signal using a cellular phone (automobile phone) or FM multiplexed signal. 23, an absolute azimuth sensor 24 composed of a geomagnetic sensor, a wheel sensor, a steering sensor, a relative azimuth sensor 25 composed of a gyro, a distance sensor 26 for detecting a travel distance from the rotational speed of the wheel, and the like.
[0012]
The information storage device 3 consists of files such as map data, intersection data, node data, road data, photo data, registration point data, guidance point data, destination data, telephone number data, address data, etc. necessary for route guidance. This is a database that records all the data necessary for the device.
[0013]
The central processing unit 4 includes a CPU 40 that performs various arithmetic processes, a program for performing processing such as route search, a display output control necessary for route guidance, a program for performing voice output control necessary for voice guidance, and the like. First ROM 41 storing necessary data, RAM 42 for temporarily storing searched route guidance information such as set point coordinates, road number, etc. and data being processed, necessary for route guidance and map display Second ROM 43 storing various display information data, image memory 44 storing image data used for screen display on the display, and taking out the image data from the image memory 44 based on the display output control signal from the CPU 40, and image processing The image processor 45 that outputs the information to the display and stores information based on the audio output control signal from the CPU A speech processor 46 that synthesizes speech, a phrase, a single sentence, sound, and the like read from the device 3 and converts them into analog signals and outputs them to the speaker 16; a communication interface 47 that exchanges input / output data by communication; A sensor input interface 48 for taking in a sensor signal of the current position detection device 2 and a clock 49 for entering date and time in internal diagnosis information are provided. Here, the route guidance is performed by screen display and voice output, and the driver can select whether or not to output voice.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the entire system of the navigation apparatus according to the present invention.
When the route guidance system program is started by the CPU 51 of the central processing unit 4, the current position is detected by the current position detection device 2, and the surrounding map is displayed centering on the current position, and the name of the current position is displayed. (Step S1). Next, a destination is set using a target name such as a place name or a facility name, a telephone number or an address, a registration point, etc. (step S2), and a route search from the current position to the destination is performed (step S3). When the route is determined, the route guidance / display is repeated until the destination is reached while tracking the current position by the current position detection device 2 (step S4). If there is an input for setting a detour before arriving at the destination, a search area is set and re-search is performed in the search area, and route guidance is repeated until the destination is reached in the same manner.
[0015]
Next, a process for inputting a destination by a target name will be described.
FIG. 3 shows an alphabet input screen. When the first character “A” and the second character “B” of the target name are input, the following characters and numbers are shaded “B, E, H, J”. , M, O, R, U, Y, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ″. At the same time, the number of remaining lists is displayed as 1234, and when “LIST” on the screen is pressed, all registered names of “AB” from the first two characters are listed up and shaded as shown in the figure. When “ABCDEFG” is a target name, selection and input by a key operation, a remote control operation, or the like displays a map of the surrounding area. It is also possible to return to a map display screen → list-up display screen → character input screen by a key operation. In addition, if it is difficult to find the target name on the list display screen because the number of remaining lists is large, the number of remaining lists will decrease if the number of input characters is further increased. When there are fewer numbers, you can display a list and select a target name. When characters are input until the number of remaining lists becomes one, the remaining names are selected or input automatically or by key operation, and the surrounding map is displayed. Note that character input is not only performed from the touch panel on the input screen, but may be input by voice when a voice input device is added.
[0016]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the registration point data structure when the target name is input alphabetically. The registration name when the first character is “B” and the second character is “A” is
BADAPOZ, BADANAH, BAIKAL, BAQUIBAH
BARCELONA, BARSTOW, BASEL, BASTAK
BASILAN, BATH, BATHURST, BAYERN
Is all, and the first character is “B” and the second character is “E”.
BEITBRIDGE, BELFAST, BERLIN, BERN
BERGEN, BERKLEY
Is the case of all.
[0017]
Here, for example, when inputting “BARCELONA” as a target name, if “BA” is input, the remaining list number “12” is displayed, and if “BAR” is further input, the remaining list number is “2”. When “LIST” on the screen is pressed here, “BARCELONA” and “BARRSTOW” are displayed in a list, and when “BARCELONA” is selected, the surrounding map is displayed. In this case, if “BARC” is entered, the number of remaining lists is one, so “BARCELONA” is selected and a map around it is displayed. Thus, it is not necessary to input nine characters “BARCELONA”, and only three or four characters can be input.
[0018]
Similarly, when “BERLIN” is used as the target name, even if “BE” and “BER” are entered, the number of remaining lists is “6”, and when “BERL” is entered, the number of remaining lists is As one, “BERLIN” is selected and a map around it is displayed. In this case as well, the list may be displayed by pressing the list key when the number of remaining lists is “6”, and “BERLIN” may be selected from the list. In this case, the 6-character input “BERLIN” can be input from 2 to 4 characters.
[0019]
FIG. 5 shows the remaining list number display process in alphabet input. When characters or numbers are entered on the alphabet input screen, the remaining list number search process is performed each time a character is entered. If the number of lists is greater than 1, the remaining list number is displayed on the screen. Then, it is determined whether or not the list display key has been operated, and it is determined whether to perform list display processing or to continue input processing. If the list display key is not operated, alphabet input processing is performed. If the list display key is operated, the list display is instructed to display all applicable names, and the target name is searched from among them. When selected, a map around the selected point is displayed. When the number of lists becomes one, a map around the selected point is displayed automatically or by key operation.
[0020]
FIG. 6 shows a process for searching for the number of remaining lists by forward matching comparison for the data structure shown in FIG.
When a character is input, the registered point data is searched, and the names of the input alphabet and the search data are compared with each other in the forward direction. If they do not match, the registered point data is further searched and forward-matched comparisons are sequentially performed. If there is a forward match, the number of lists (L) is increased by 1, this process is executed until all data is searched, and the list number is output when the search for all data is completed.
[0021]
When the number of data is very large, the registration point data file is divided into a genre name, a point data address, index data having size data as shown in FIG. It consists of genre-specific point data with reading, east longitude / north latitude, map display scale, registration point number data, point data point data by genre by point data address and size of index data, and each point data name from genre name By making it possible to search and selecting a genre and then inputting a target name, the number of corresponding data can be reduced.
[0022]
In the above description, the case where the target names are input alphabetically has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to the case of Japanese input. Taking golf course names as an example, for example, the names of golf courses with “Chiba” at the beginning are “Chiba Isumi Golf Club”, “Chiba Country Club Umego Course”, “Chiba Country Club Kawama Course”, “Chiba Country Club” Noda Course, Chiba Green Park Country Club, Chiba Kosaido Country Club, Chiba International Country Club, Chiba New Japan Golf Club, Chiba Springs Country Club, Chiba Central Golf Club, Chiba Central Golf Club, There are 12 locations, including “Chiba Yomiuri Country Club” and “Chiba Lakeside Country Club”. And since the golf course name has a long number of characters, it takes time to input. In this case, if you select a golf course by genre-specific data and enter “Chiba”, there are 12 golf courses with “Chiba” at the beginning, so the number of remaining lists is displayed as “12”. Can be displayed in a list, and the target golf course name can be selected from the list. Of course, if the number of input characters is further increased, for example, “Chibayo” is entered, the number of remaining lists is one, and the Chiba Yomiuri Country Club is selected and its surrounding map is displayed. In this way, it is possible to save a little time and effort to input all characters of the target name.
[0023]
In addition, golf courses with the characters “Chiba” that are not the first are “Ochiba Country Club” and “Hon Chiba Country Club”, and it is desirable that these can be searched. In this case, if you can list all the golf course names that include the common reading “Chiba”, you can select from the list display to enter all the characters. It is possible to select a target name.
[0024]
In the above description, the search is performed in units of words. However, in the case of a foreign language, the destination name is not always composed of one word. For example, even if it is a single word “Tokyu Hotel” in Japanese, it is composed of two words “TOKY HOTEL” in a foreign language. Accordingly, when performing a search, when “HOTEL” is being input, it is desirable to check whether there is a space before and after the point and to search for a point including the word “HOTEL”.
[0025]
Search processing based on partial match comparison for each word separated by spaces will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 shows an alphabet input screen. When “HOTEL” is entered, characters “D” which are searched by a partial match comparison process and separated by a space and combined with this word are shaded “D”. , E, G, H, J, M, O, R, U, Y, 3, 7 ″. At the same time, the number of remaining lists is displayed as 123. When “LIST” on the screen is pressed here, all registered names including the word “HOTEL” are displayed in a list, and “A HOTEL” shaded in the figure is displayed. When a target name is selected / input by key operation, remote control operation, or the like, a map of the surrounding area is displayed. It is also possible to return to a map display screen → list-up display screen → character input screen by a key operation. In addition, if it is difficult to find the target name on the list display screen because the number of remaining lists is large, the number of remaining lists will decrease if the number of input characters is further increased. When there are fewer numbers, you can display a list and select a target name. When characters are input until the number of remaining lists becomes one, the remaining names are selected or input automatically or by key operation, and the surrounding map is displayed.
[0026]
FIG. 9 shows an example of a registration point data structure including words separated by spaces.
"A BANK", "A HOTEL", "A STATION"
"BANK AA", "B BANK", "B HOTEL"
“B STATION”, “HOTEL D”, “HOTEL E”
Assuming that all the names including “BANK”, “HOTEL”, and “STATION” are all, if you enter “BANK”, the number of remaining lists is “3” and if you enter “HOTEL”, the “remaining list” When the numbers “4” and “STATION” are input, “the number of remaining lists“ 2 ”is displayed.
[0027]
FIG. 10 shows the remaining list number search processing by partial match comparison for the data structure shown in FIG.
When the alphabet is entered, the registration point data is searched, and partial match comparison is performed for each word separated by a space between the input alphabet and the search data name. If there is no partial match, the registration point data is further searched and sequentially We perform partial match comparison. If there is a partial match, the number of lists (L) is increased by 1, this process is executed until all data is searched, and the number of lists is output when the search for all data is completed. In this way, it is possible to search for a target name that partially includes the input alphabet separated by a space.
As a partial match search method, by searching for a space, the next alphabet after the space is recognized as the first character, so that a word between spaces can be searched using forward matching.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a navigation apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the flow of the entire system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an alphabet input screen.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data structure.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a remaining list number display process;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a remaining list number search process;
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration place data file.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an alphabet input screen.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data structure.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a remaining list number search process;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input / output device, 2 ... Current position detection device, 3 ... Information storage device, 4 ... Central processing unit, 11 ... Touch switch, 12 ... Display, 13 ... Printer, 16 ... Speaker, 21 ... GPS receiver, 22 ... Beacon receiving device, 23 ... Data transmitting / receiving device, 40 ... CPU, 41 ... First ROM, 42 ... RAM, 43 ... Second ROM, 44 ... Image memory, 45 ... Image processor, 46 ... Audio processor, 47 ... Communication interface, 48 ... sensor input interface, 49 ... clock

Claims (5)

In a navigation device that provides route guidance from the current position or departure point to the destination,
Display means;
Input means for inputting a target name in the character input screen displayed on the display means, storage means for storing registration spot data having at least a target name,
Search means for searching for a target name of registration point data including input data each time one character is input by the input means,
Each time a character is input by the input means, the number of remaining lists of target names searched by the search means is displayed on the character input screen. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a list of target names searched by the search means is further displayed on the display means, and a target name as a destination can be selected from the displayed list of target names. A featured navigation device. 2. The navigation according to claim 1, wherein when the number of remaining lists of the target name becomes one, the target name is selected and a map around the selected point is displayed on the display means. apparatus. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, and alphabet input an input by the input means, said retrieval means, the registration spot data including the input data by forward match comparison between the input data and the registered place point data A navigation device characterized by searching for a target name. 5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein all alphabets or numbers to be selected and input next are displayed on the screen in a recognizable manner.

Images